The Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care is coming to Robbins.

"They will have regular office hours here," said Clare Ruggles, director of the Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC). "Every Tuesday morning, somebody from the Coalition will be here from 9 to 11. They will assist our low-income families around here when they need financial help."

The Coalition for Human Care doesn't have a lot of money available. It doesn't pay for hotels or cover telephone bills, or buy gas -- but the organization can sometimes help with electric and water bills, rent or rent deposits. People who do need help won't have to find a way to get to the other end of the county any more. Now they can come to Robbins.

A Coalition volunteer will be available in NMFRC's new office at 130 S. Middleton St., right across from the Little Village Inn cafe.

It is a cheerful, brightly painted place. Kiosks with computers line the walls with free Internet access readily available. There is a big table in the back where groups and classes meet. It is a local home for and a way of coordinating both publicly supported and volunteer organizations that provide help.

Habitat for Humanity of Moore County is already a presence there every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., accepting applications and counseling people who may some day be home owners. The first three Habitat houses in Robbins are nearing completion on Green Street across from the American Growler plant.

Northern Moore Tomorrow (NMT) meets at the center frequently. Stacks of information sheets, brochures and fliers are available, helping direct area families to resources offered by all sorts of agencies and organizations.

"We chose Tuesdays for the Coalition, because that is when Heavenly Treasures Thrift Store is open," Ruggles said. "Churches around here formed the Robbins Area Christian Ministry and operate it to make clothing, home furnishings, canned goods, and other things people need available at low cost."

Nine local churches are cooperating at this time to keep that ministry going and the thrift shop open. Not long ago, students at North Moore High School collected canned food to stock the pantry at Heavenly Treasures.

"That group of young people have been doing this every year for this ministry, but this was their biggest year," said Wilson Harris, pastor of the First Wesleyan Church in Robbins. "Over 4,200 cans of food were donated by these students this year. It was amazing, amazing. It just exceeded my expectations.

"The principal was with them when they came over to deliver the cans they collected. 4,200 of them! It just speaks so well for this school and these young people."

Now, on the same day that Heavenly Treasures is open, people in need have somebody to talk with about financial crises as well. NMFRC is only a few steps up the street from Heavenly Treasures.

Identification is required, along with copies of the bills residents need help paying.

"If you need help, please bring your picture ID and a Social Security card to the center when you come, with a copy of your bill," said Caroline Eddy, executive director of the Coalition. "A volunteer will be there to talk confidentially with you."

She can be reached at 693-1600. The phone number for NMFRC is 948-4324. A spokesperson for the Robbins Area Christian Ministry can be reached at (910) 948-2332.

John Chappell can be reached at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.